Actress Amanda Abbington has been the victim of an alleged death threat. She received an email warning she would “die on stage” if she didn’t retract a complaint she made against her former Strictly Come Dancing partner, Giovanni Pernice. The Metropolitan Police were called to the Park Theatre in London, where Abbington is performing, on Friday to investigate an “alleged malicious communication”. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
Abbington withdrew from the BBC series in October and has since made allegations of threatening behaviour against Pernice. She’s made a formal complaint about his treatment of her backstage, which has led to further allegations about the ways he interacted with others during the production.
Last week, Abbington revealed that she and her daughter have been recklessly threatened with rape, while her son faced death threats. The seriousness of these incidents, and the continuing revelations from other participants, have prompted renewed attention on the BBC’s processes for handling such issues.
TV presenter Laura Whitmore, who appeared on the show eight years ago, spoke out against the everyday sexism she experienced, which she said was normalised by those around her. The extent and prevalence of such behaviour, and its long-standing nature, have become matters of increased concern for those in the industry. Representatives for Abbington, Pernice, and the Park Theatre have made no comment on the matters
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
